How to make Chase Lights with a Decade Counter - The Learning Circuit
TLDRThis video tutorial demonstrates how to use a decade counter and a 555 timer to create a sequential LED lighting circuit. The presenter, inspired by a robot project, seeks a hardware solution to control flashing lights without relying heavily on Arduino coding. The 4017 decade counter is used with 10 output pins, and a 555 timer is configured as an oscillator to generate a clock signal. The LEDs light up sequentially as the counter advances with each clock pulse. To handle higher current requirements, transistors are introduced to control strands of LEDs. Additionally, a relay is incorporated to allow control of the entire circuit with a single Arduino pin. The video concludes with an invitation to share ideas or questions on the Element 14 community platform.
Takeaways
- 😀 The video is a tutorial on using a decade counter and a 555 timer to create a sequence of LEDs lighting up.
- 🛠️ The inspiration for the circuit comes from building a robot with flashing lights, aiming to reduce reliance on Arduino coding.
- 🔢 The 4017 decade counter is used, which has 10 output pins labeled Q0 through Q9 and two clock inputs.
- ⏱️ A 555 timer is set up as an oscillator to generate a clock signal that alternates between high and low.
- 🔩 The 555 timer circuit includes a stable configuration with specific pin connections and an RC circuit for oscillation.
- 💡 An LED is connected to the 555 timer's output to demonstrate the blinking/oscillation, with a potentiometer to adjust speed.
- 🔌 The decade counter is connected to the 555 timer, with specific pin connections to enable and disable certain features.
- 🔆 10 LEDs are connected to the decade counter outputs, with current-limiting resistors, to light up sequentially.
- 🔌 Due to current limitations, transistors are used to control strands of LEDs, with each output controlling a transistor.
- 🔘 A relay and button are added to control the entire circuit with a single output pin from an Arduino, overcoming current limitations.
- 🤖 The final circuit is demonstrated on a breadboard, showing the sequential lighting of LEDs and the use of the potentiometer to adjust speed.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the circuit discussed in the video?
-The purpose of the circuit is to control a series of LEDs to light up in sequence using a decade counter and a 555 timer, as an alternative to using Arduino coding for a robot project.
What is Element 14 and what does it offer to its users?
-Element 14 is an electronics community where users can connect and collaborate with top engineers from around the world. It provides a platform for learning and sharing knowledge about electronics.
Why did the presenter choose to use a hardware solution instead of a software solution for the robot's flashing lights?
-The presenter chose a hardware solution because they were not very good at Arduino coding and wanted to find a better, more hardware-based solution to control the flashing lights in their robot project.
What is a decade counter and how does it work?
-A decade counter is a digital circuit that has 10 output pins labeled Q0 through Q9. It counts in sequence from Q0 to Q9 with each clock signal, ensuring only one output pin is high at a time.
How is the 555 timer used in this circuit?
-The 555 timer is used as an oscillator to generate a clock signal that oscillates between high and low, which is connected to the clock input of the decade counter to control the sequence of the LEDs.
What components are used to build the oscillator circuit of the 555 timer?
-The oscillator circuit of the 555 timer is built using two resistors, a 10 microfarad capacitor, and a 0.01 microfarad capacitor to create the timing for the clock signal.
What is the role of the potentiometer in the 555 timer circuit?
-The potentiometer, a variable resistor in this case, is used to vary the speed of the blinking or oscillation of the LED, allowing the user to adjust the frequency of the clock signal generated by the 555 timer.
Why is a transistor used in the final circuit design?
-A transistor is used because the decade counter's output pins cannot provide enough current to power multiple strands of LEDs. The transistors act as switches, controlled by the decade counter outputs, to manage the higher current requirements of the LED strands.
What is the maximum output current that the decade counter can handle according to the data sheet?
-According to the data sheet, the maximum output current that the decade counter can handle is around 50 milliamps.
How does the relay in the circuit work and why is it necessary?
-The relay works by having a coil that, when powered, closes a switch that connects the normally open pin to the common pin, supplying power to the rail. It is necessary because the Arduino's I/O pins cannot handle the current required for the entire circuit, so the relay is used to turn the whole circuit on and off with a single output pin.
How can the speed of the LED sequence be adjusted in the final circuit?
-The speed of the LED sequence can be adjusted by turning the potentiometer, which changes the values in the RC circuit of the 555 timer, thus altering the clock frequency and the speed at which the lights cycle.
What platform does the presenter suggest using to share ideas or ask questions about the circuit?
-The presenter suggests using the Element 14 community platform, accessible at element14.com/thelearningcircuit, to share ideas or ask questions about the circuit.
Outlines
😀 Building a Sequential LED Circuit with a 555 Timer and Decade Counter
This paragraph introduces a project to create a sequential LED lighting circuit using a 555 timer and a decade counter, inspired by the need to control flashing lights in a robot. The speaker explains their preference for a hardware solution over software, specifically Arduino coding. The 4017 decade counter is chosen for its 10 output pins, which light up sequentially. A 555 timer is set up as an oscillator to generate a clock signal that advances the counter with each high signal. The setup includes a variable resistor to adjust the speed of the blinking LEDs. The goal is to reduce reliance on Arduino's I/O pins and instead use just one to control the light circuit.
🛠️ Enhancing the Circuit for Higher Current LED Strands
The second paragraph discusses the challenges of using the decade counter to control LED strands that require more current than the counter can provide. To overcome this, the speaker decides to use transistors to control each output, allowing for lower current draw from the controlling device. The plan is to use five strands of LEDs, with two output pins controlling each strand, resulting in a specific lighting sequence. The speaker also introduces a relay and a button to simulate an Arduino signal for turning the entire circuit on and off. The relay setup is explained, detailing how it connects to the power supply and the button. Upon powering the circuit, the LEDs light up in sequence, and the potentiometer can adjust the speed of the sequence.
🤖 Seeking Applications and Feedback for the LED Sequence Circuit
In the final paragraph, the speaker expresses excitement about implementing the circuit in their robot and invites others to share ideas or questions on the Element 14 community website. The speaker encourages further exploration and application of the circuit, seeking a collaborative exchange of thoughts and potential uses for the project. The paragraph ends with a playful prompt to 'go faster', highlighting the interactive and experimental nature of the project.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Decade Counter
💡555 Timer
💡Clock Signal
💡Arduino
💡LEDs
💡Oscillator Circuit
💡RC Circuit
💡Potentiometer
💡Transistor
💡Relay
Highlights
Introduction to Element 14, the electronics community, and its collaborative features.
Overview of using a decade counter to create a sequence of LEDs lighting up.
Explanation of how a 555 timer can be used to generate a clock signal.
Description of the inspiration for the circuit: building a robot with flashing lights.
Mention of the challenge of using Arduino coding and preference for a hardware solution.
Introduction to the 4017 decade counter and its output pins Q0 through Q9.
Detailed setup of a 555 timer to generate a clock signal, including connections and components used.
Demonstration of the 555 timer's output blinking an LED and adjusting the blink speed with a potentiometer.
Integration of the 555 timer circuit with the decade counter on a breadboard.
Explanation of how the decade counter advances outputs and lights up LEDs in sequence.
Solution to the limited current capacity of the decade counter by using transistors to control higher current loads.
Modification of the circuit to use strands of LEDs with higher current requirements.
Use of a relay to control the entire circuit with a single Arduino pin.
Explanation of the relay's function and wiring in the circuit.
Final demonstration of the complete circuit with adjustable speed and higher current capacity for LED strands.
Transcripts
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